National Coordinator SUN Business Network

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide.  The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.  Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

In emergencies, WFP gets food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After an emergency, WFP uses food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives. On average, WFP reaches more than 80 million people with food assistance in 75 countries each year. The organization has the global footprint, deep field presence and local knowledge and relationships necessary to provide access to nutritious food and contribute to the lasting solutions, especially in many of the world’s most remote and fragile areas.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has been presented in Myanmar since 1994 and is now focusing on helping the Government reach its national Zero Hunger Challenge by 2025. WFP’s work in the country is guided by three priorities: emergency preparedness and response; nutrition; and provision of social safety nets.

SUN (Scaling up Nutrition) is a global movement that unites Government, UN agencies, Civil Society, donors, business community, academia etc, in an effort to improve nutrition and end malnutrition in all its forms. SUN Business Network (SBN) is one of the SUN movement’s four global networks.

The SBN seeks to support the country to engage with businesses within a multi-stakeholder, country-owned approach to scaling up nutrition. The SBN engages and supports businesses to act, invest and innovate in responsible and sustainable food related business. Aim is to improve the production and consumption of nutritious and safe food, and through this, contribute to reducing malnutrition in all its forms. Focus areas of the SBN are for instance, food fortification, food safety, consumer awareness/demand creation and health and nutrition in the workplace.

At the global level, WFP and GAIN are the co-conveners of SBN. This will be replicated in Myanmar, with coordination support of other UN agencies. The Ministry of Health & Sports represented by the National Nutrition Centre is the regulatory authority with the buying in of other ministries, including the Ministry of commerce.

With guidance from WFP Myanmar (SBN Convener) and the International SBN Consultant, the SBN Coordinator will implement the SBN Myanmar Strategy 2020-2021, that was designed by the SBN International Consultant in 2019.

Specific short-term objectives (2020-2021) of the Coordinator will be:

1. To act as the SBN Myanmar Secretariat and with advise from the multi-stakeholder SBN Advisory Committee in Myanmar and International Consultant, roll out the SUN Business Network Myanmar strategy in 2020 and 2021;
2. Together with the SBN business- and support- (other nutrition stakeholders) members, to set up focus-groups and facilitate the development and implementation of activity plans 2020-2021, targeting specific nutrition and business themes (including attracting additional funding);
3. To monitor and report progress of the SBN to WFP Myanmar, to the SUN Focal Point in Myanmar and to  other SUN Networks (SUN UN Network and  SUN Civil Society Network), to SBN Global and to funders of the SBN Myanmar.
4. To support the development of a (financial) sustainable strategy for the second phase of SBN Myanmar after 2021, ideally aiming at phasing out public interference and at developing an independent, business related organization in Myanmar after 2-3 years.
5. To provide support to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Nutrition of WFP Myanmar and with technical support from WFP Nutrition team and International Consultant, the National Coordinator’s roles and responsibilities will be:

To roll out the SBN Myanmar strategy and grow the Network’s membership base, consulted by the Advisory Committee and International Consultant

• Manage the SBN Secretariat and roll out the SBN Myanmar strategy (2020-2021) after the launch of the SBN
• Expand the SBN membership base with company members and support members (non-private members), based on the agreed membership criteria with the Advisory Committee
• Organize Advisory Committee meetings to consult the Committee on strategic directions
• Together with the WFP communications team, develop and implement SBN communications activities, including sending out newsletters, frequent communication through social media and representing the SBN in food, nutrition and business meetings, to create more awareness on the role of business in fighting malnutrition

Deliverables:

• Implemented SBN workplan 2020-2021
• Growing member-base: 15-20 companies by the end of 2021
• SBN Advisory Committee meetings
• Communication outputs: bi-annual newsletters, frequent messages on (social) media, and presentations in (international) conferences, meetings and seminars on the SBN and the role that business can play in fighting malnutrition
• Funding proposals

Together with the SBN business and support (other nutrition stakeholders) members to set up focus-groups and to facilitate the development and implementation of activity plans for the first two years of the SBN

• Help formalizing thematic sub-groups (with Chairs/Co-Chairs) on (initially) food fortification, food safety, consumer education and nutrition in the workplace
• Agree upon activities for 2020-2021 (related to setting up a platform for dialogue with other stakeholders, enhancing production and marketing of healthy food, creating consumer/workers awareness, and strengthening the enabling environment of food companies and service providers)
• Together with the Chairs/Co-Chairs facilitate sub-group meetings, provide/organize (external) support where needed and report/ monitor/manage progress
• Together with SBN members, partners and the WFP Nutrition team, develop funding proposals and attract funding for expanding nutrition activities

Deliverables:

• Formalization of sub-groups
• Final activity workplans for the first two years of the SBN
• Sub-group meetings held and reported upon
• Funding proposals and funding in place

To monitor and report progress of the SBN to the SUN Focal Point and National Nutrition Center (NNC), the UN organizations in the SUN UN Network, as well as to the SUN Civil Society Network, the Global SBN and the funders of the SBN.

• Working alongside the SUN Reach coordinator, provide government partners (NNC, Ministry of Commerce, FDA etc.) with ongoing communications and updates from the Private Sector members and the broader SBN to ensure that the platform continuously functions in a way that supports the implementation of the national nutrition plan (MS-NPAN)
• Together with WFP Myanmar, report on SBNs progress and impact to the funder (including financial reports and budgets) and relevant networks, including SUN networks in Myanmar and globally
• Participate and represent SBN Myanmar in SBN Global network calls and events

Deliverables:

• Meetings with government partners held
• Financial report, progress reports and M&E reports in place
• Participation in national SUN meetings and to global SBN calls and meetings

To develop a (financial) sustainable strategy for the second phase of the SBN (beyond 2021)

• Together with WFP (national SBN Convener) lead and develop a strategy for the second phase of the SBN (beyond 2021) with the aim of eventually handing over management of the SBN to an independent and business-related organization, including a sound funding/financial strategy
• Together with the WFP Nutrition team, develop funding proposals and attract funding for the second phase of running the SBN organization

Deliverables:

• Strategy for the second phase of managing and facilitating the SBN (after 2-3 years)
• Funding proposal and funding for funding the SBN organization in the second phase

Education: Advanced University Degree in Business Management (MBA), Development, Marketing and Communications or equivalent education.

Experience: Senior Myanmar consultant/manager with seven years of relevant work experience in an international, multi-stakeholder environment, working with both the private sector and the public and NGO sector.

Language: Fluent in Myanmar, with good level of English both in speaking and writing.

Knowledge & Skills: The consultant needs strong advocacy skills, as well as multi-stakeholder facilitation skills, and has experience in implementing and managing a multi-stakeholder program focused on business engagement. He/she:

• Has a thorough understanding of the agri- and food- businesses landscape in Myanmar;
• Has knowledge of best practices of responsible business and nutrition;
• Is compassionate about the Scaling up Nutrition (SUN) movement;
• Has strong advocacy and stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills;
• Has good interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, persuade, influence and adapt communication styles to different situations (at strategic and political governmental level as well as at senior business level).
• Has communication experience: can manage the implementation of communication activities, including developing newsletters and communication through (social) media.
• Has proposal writing and budgeting experience

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

This post is opened for Myanmar Nationals Only.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Female applicants and qualified applicants are especially encouraged to apply.

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.